Losses in BHP

[rodney 17]

Ok guys n gals,

Now whilst I understand we have losses in BHP figures from flywheel to on the road. What are the causes of these and what can be done to improve or remove losses?

Cheers

[jims13 6]

from what i have learnt and seen , i always thought most of it is lost through the gearbox, so maybe a shaft driven system

tbh, i dont think there is a huge amount you can do in that respect.

[pimpcat 0]

there is not at all i dont think? im sure its just the way the system works

[Earwig 89]

I am pretty sure it's something that you cannot do anything about.

It's a fact of physics or something. . . .

[rodney 17]

Ok so I understand that the "slackness" in the links to the wheels is the major cause of loss. It does seem to me that we are all losing something between 30-80BHP in transmission depending on how lucky we all are.

So I am interested if it is just in the gearbox? As we all know that is a big area. But is there anywhere else? Even if it is theoretical? For example - Flywheel. It increases BHP but then limits the cars ability to deal whith inclines as the mass is required by the engine.... SO where else do we have losses?

[daleyboyVR6 6]

i think the main losses would be in the bearings of the gearbox and wheels, obviously friction is the thing that slows cars down, where you have heat you have friction, and where you have metel on metel you get friction however well the surfaces are lubricated, so maybe the biggest losses would be from the teeth of the cogs in the gearbox, as they rub against each other. I know there was some research done about 15 years ago and they deduced that the average family car is only 13% efficient, but if you bear in mind that a bicycle chain is only 87% efficient then it seems believable........................i believe that a belt driven gearbox would be more efficient but havent got a clue by how much........................and i also think any slackness in the links of the drive system wouldnt effect the overall efficiency as in motion the slackness would dissapear apart from maybe the twisting motion on the driveshafts.................. :-p

[daleyboyVR6 6]

by the way dont take any notice of what i wrote previously i was a bit drunk !!!............................and i would have got away with it as well if it werent for those pesky kids............................ :-p

[SiGainey 1]

Box oil is about the only [cheap] thing you can do to help it Replace for new fully synth stuff